Adeleke, APC Trade Blame as Gun Attacks Rattle Osun Campaign

Political tension is mounting in Osun State ahead of the forthcoming governorship election as Governor Ademola Adeleke and the All Progressives Congress (APC) traded accusations over a series of violent incidents that have unsettled residents in several communities.

The latest exchange followed reports of gun attacks and politically linked violence in parts of the state, raising fresh concerns about security and the conduct of political actors as campaigns intensify.

The Osun State Police Command confirmed that incidents involving gunfire had been reported in Owode-Ede and Osogbo, adding that investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the attacks and identify those responsible.

Police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, said security agencies had commenced intelligence gathering and were working to determine whether the incidents were politically motivated.

However, she noted that no group or political party had yet been officially linked to the attacks.

Addressing journalists at the Government House in Osogbo, Governor Adeleke accused political opponents of orchestrating violence aimed at creating fear and destabilising the state ahead of the election.

According to the governor, suspected thugs carried out sporadic shootings in Ile-Ife during the early hours of Tuesday, causing panic among residents and disrupting normal activities.

He further alleged that another attack occurred in Owode-Ede, where several residents reportedly sustained injuries.

“These attacks are outrageous, unprovoked and deliberate,” Adeleke said.

“The level of provocation is becoming unbearable. For months, I have continued to appeal to my supporters to maintain peace despite repeated attacks.”

The governor linked the latest incidents to a broader pattern of political violence in the state.

He referenced the killing of a youth leader of the Accord Party in Ikire and the recent shooting of the party’s chairman in Osogbo as evidence of escalating insecurity.

“These attacks must stop. Our people should not be pushed to the wall,” he warned.

Adeleke subsequently called on the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security chiefs to closely monitor developments in Osun State.

“Elections are about the people. Citizens must be allowed to exercise their democratic rights in a peaceful atmosphere. Enough is enough,” he declared.

Following the briefing, the governor led journalists to the University of Osun Teaching Hospital, where some victims of the shootings were reportedly receiving treatment.

The opposition APC, however, dismissed Adeleke’s allegations and instead accused supporters of the Accord Party of attacking its campaign convoy and supporters.

In a statement issued by the Head of Media and Publicity Committee of the APC Campaign Council, Remi Omowaiye, the party claimed that campaign vehicles belonging to the APC were vandalised during an attack in the Owode-Ede area.

According to him, several supporters sustained injuries while campaign materials and property were damaged.

“The growing wave of politically motivated violence targeted at APC supporters and innocent residents is deeply troubling,” Omowaiye said.

He condemned all forms of violence and urged security agencies to investigate the incidents and bring perpetrators to justice.

The exchange of accusations highlights the increasingly tense atmosphere surrounding the governorship race, with political stakeholders expressing concern about the potential impact of violence on voter participation and public confidence in the electoral process.

Political analysts warn that if not properly managed, the rising tension could threaten the peaceful conduct of the election.

Observers are therefore calling on security agencies to maintain neutrality, strengthen surveillance and ensure that all political parties operate within the bounds of the law.

As campaigns gather momentum, attention will now focus on the outcome of police investigations and the effectiveness of security measures put in place to prevent further violence.